I'm trying to visit every prefecture during my time here. So far I'm at 22 out of 47, but I have the next 1-2 years to see the rest. If anyone has suggestions on how to lump a few prefectures together for a more efficient trip or what to see while I'm there, I would really appreciate it. My last big trip was 4 days in Kansai. I used Osaka as a base and hit Shiga, Hyogo, and Wakayama (I already visited Nara and Kyoto on other trips.)

Come to Fukushima and see the luxurious temporary housing blocks that were only designed to last 2 years but still have thousands of people still living in them! If you are handy with a hammer and a blue sheet maybe you can stop them from leaking when it rains.

acpc2203

April 22nd, 2016, 11:44

Most of those prefectures have nothing worth visiting.

Ananasboat

April 22nd, 2016, 14:37

Wow. You actually went to my prefecture.

I'm SO SORRY.

mothy

April 22nd, 2016, 16:42

Saitama has the keyaki beer festival in spring and fall.
It has nothing else to recommend it.

Gunma's onsens are supposedly nice.

Nikko in Tochigi ain't bad.

mrcharisma

April 22nd, 2016, 16:47

Ishikawa has an abandoned Buddhist theme park at Kaga. There's a giant gold statue there that's visible for miles around and very eerie up close.

Kanazawa city is nice too. Bit of a Kyoto feel with quite a leafy city centre.

Mie has Japan's tallest rollercoaster at Nagashima.

Fukui has scenic suicide cliffs at Tojinbo.

Takayama town in Gifu is a decent little tourist spot with loads of onsens around.

Kurobe gorge in Toyama looks quite impressive.

Those 5 could be done in one 3-day road trip.

Gizmotech

April 23rd, 2016, 11:44

I recommend driving Tohoku. Just as soon as you think somewhere is nice, move to the next city/prefecture before the reality sets in that you're in like the poorest part of the entire fucking country and noone with half a brain would live here. (Save Ini and myself for some strange reason....)

webstaa

April 25th, 2016, 08:19

Drive that Iwate/Miyagi coast and see all the towns annihilated by the tsunami...

Matsushima is pretty nice for a rinky-dink tourist town - take the boat tour etc. Not much else to see in Miyagi outside Sendai.

ChasingTheSun

April 25th, 2016, 09:21

Ishikawa has an abandoned Buddhist theme park at Kaga. There's a giant gold statue there that's visible for miles around and very eerie up close.

Kanazawa city is nice too. Bit of a Kyoto feel with quite a leafy city centre.

Mie has Japan's tallest rollercoaster at Nagashima.

Fukui has scenic suicide cliffs at Tojinbo.

Takayama town in Gifu is a decent little tourist spot with loads of onsens around.

Kurobe gorge in Toyama looks quite impressive.

Those 5 could be done in one 3-day road trip.

Wonderful! Thank you.

Wow. You actually went to my prefecture.

I'm SO SORRY.

Which one was yours? One of them, Saga, I literally only stopped in for lunch and to get a keychain so I could prove I was there.

Also, for all the driving suggestions, unfortunately I can't drive in Japan. But maybe I can trick a friend that can drive into going with me.

vaterross

April 25th, 2016, 15:43

Come to Kagawa for a long weekend. Rent a cheap bike. Eat the udon, there's other stuff but it won't fill you up for 300yen. Island hop, see some art or something and take in what is considered chill vibes for Japan. Go to the gaijin bar, if you're chill go to the whiskey bar. If you're creepy and have a car, go down south to the doll village and walk across some rope bridges or something. If you're still around maybe go look at the little castles or a sand sculpture or something? but if you've gotten this far down the list you should probably move on or join the dolls.

Ananasboat

April 26th, 2016, 09:41

Which one was yours? One of them, Saga, I literally only stopped in for lunch and to get a keychain so I could prove I was there.

Wow, you had so many prefectures to choose from and you had to pick that one to illustrate how little time you spent there.

Ouch.

OatsCurrySummer

April 26th, 2016, 10:10

Maybe check out Hakone in Kanagawa? Its a rather picturesque little town with some nice onsens (try Tenzan).

Do you have any special hobbies or Japan-related interests? Because that will make a lot of places more interesting for you. For example, I love tea ceremony and learning about pottery/mingei, so Saga is actually near the top of my list of places to go because of the Korean potters who were kidnapped and brought to Saga during the 16th century raids and had a huge impact on Japanese pottery thereafter. My friend who was a fire performer in Canada is also seeing places all around Japan because of the various fire festivals they host. If you've got a hobby of some kind, it can make seemingly mundane places a lot more interesting.

Ananasboat

April 26th, 2016, 10:56

Kunchi is worth the trek in November.

fryfry

April 26th, 2016, 11:43

my plan: to look around and find things to do.

hypatia

April 26th, 2016, 17:02

Wow. You actually went to my prefecture.

I'm SO SORRY.

Haha, what she said.

Ebi

April 27th, 2016, 00:22

Tohoku isn't the most exciting area, but there are some notable places to visit if you're headed up that way.

Miyagi:
仙台市 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5150.html) [Sendai City] = go shopping downtown; visit castle ruins at night to see a nice view of the city; visit the giant white Bodhisattva Kannon statue, do Nikka Whisky factory tour; visit aquarium; famous foods = gyutan [cow tongue], zunda [sweet edamame paste], sasakamaboko [fish cakes shaped like bamboo leaves]
松島 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5100.html) [Matsushima] = a famous view of pine-covered islands; short boat cruises; fireworks in summer; a few temples and fancy bridges; famous food = oysters
鳴子温泉 (http://en.naruko.gr.jp/) [Naruko Onsen] = visit onsen; I like うなぎ湯の宿「琢琇」 (http://www.takuhide.jp/spa/index.html) [Unagiyu-no-yado TAKUHIDE] but their bathing hours are really short on weekends and holidays, so get there well before 2pm
鳴子峡 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5177.html) [Naruko Gorge] = see the view; it's not particularly noteworthy except in autumn, but will be crowded in peak season; famous food = 栗だんご [kuri dango]
塩釜市 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5041.html) [Shiogama City] = see the large old Shiogama Shrine; famous foods = seafood; Shiogama has a few famous sushi restaurants and a fish market where you can get a bowl of hot rice and make your own kaisen-don

Yamagata:
山寺 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7940.html) [Yamadera] = climb the steps to see the temple built into the mountainside; beautiful year round but recommended in autumn while the leaves have changed color
霞城公園 (http://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_06201ah3330040923/) [Kajo Park] = a large park very close to Yamagata Station with a moat and castle ruins; best visited during spring because there are over 1,000 sakura trees; famous food = どんどん焼き ["dondon-yaki", aka okonomiyaki on a stick] sold at a store near one of the park's gates
銀山温泉 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7975.html) [Ginzan Onsen] = famous onsen spot with old-fashioned ryokan built along a river next to a big waterfall
加茂水族館 (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1023682-d1233025-Reviews-Kamo_Aquarium-Tsuruoka_Yamagata_Prefecture_Tohoku.html) [Kamo Aquarium] = an aquarium that holds world record number of jellyfish; probably not easily accessible without a car

Iwate:
盛岡市 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5050.html) [Morioka City] = go shopping; see the castle ruins; famous foods = reimen [cold noodle soup], wanko soba [eating dozens of tiny bowls of soba], jajamen [noodles you mix yourself with various toppings]
平泉 (http://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/index.html) [Hiraizumi] = visit Chusonji Temple; visit Geibikei Gorge; see the combinis that are black & white (http://static.baka100k.com/f4e332382b13dc5de4009a9432eb0d13.jpg); the area is a world heritage site
大沢温泉 (http://www.oosawaonsen.com/) [Osawa Onsen] = another famous onsen spot also built on a river, but the 自炊部 [cook-for-yourself] plans are quite reasonable if you stay in the ryokan section that is over 100 years old instead of the fancy resort section

Aomori:
青森市 (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298241-Activities-Aomori_Aomori_Prefecture_Tohoku.html) [Aomori City] = most famous for the Nebuta Festival in August; visit the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins; famous food = apples
弘前市 (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g303161-Activities-Hirosaki_Aomori_Prefecture_Tohoku.html) [Hirosaki City] = university town with a nice mountain view; famous for the castle park, especially in spring because of sakura; see the Neputa Festival in August
八戸市 (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298242-Activities-Hachinohe_Aomori_Prefecture_Tohoku.html) [Hachinohe City] = famous for seafood; visit 八食センター [Hasshoku Center] to buy fresh seafood and booze and cook your own food on a rental grill provided in the shop
十二湖 (http://www.daiichikanko.jp/about06.html) [Juniko aka 12 Lakes] = pretty lakes and a world heritage site; one lake appears extremely blue; probably not easily accessible without a car
不老ふ死温泉 (http://www.furofushi.com/english) [Furofushi Onsen] = an unusual onsen built into the beach on the coast of the Sea of Japan; amazing view but the water is rusty brown because of the high iron content; probably not easily accessible without a car

Border of Aomori & Akita:
十和田湖 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Towada) [Towada Lake] = a very large lake with scenic views and boating activities

Akita:
角館 (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3601.html) [Kakunodate] = old-fashioned samurai village; famous for sakura in spring
Aside from the Kamakura Festival (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3690.html) in winter, I'm not sure what else to recommend, but I guess Akita is famous for sake and beautiful women

There are a lot of other places I've visited around Tohoku that are worth a visit, but they probably wouldn't be accessible without a car and some things depend on the season.

mrcharisma

April 27th, 2016, 02:44

Wonderful! Thank you.

Which one was yours? One of them, Saga, I literally only stopped in for lunch and to get a keychain so I could prove I was there.

Also, for all the driving suggestions, unfortunately I can't drive in Japan. But maybe I can trick a friend that can drive into going with me.

If you can't drive, probably skip the abandoned theme park in Ishikawa and stick with Kanazawa. There's a modern art museum, castle, some nice gardens and one of Japan's more pleasant city centres to soak up.

The Fukui cliffs will be a no-go also, but there's a modern, huge dinosaur museum on the more beaten path if that's your thing.

Frap

April 27th, 2016, 08:31

What did you do in Hokkaido?

Ananasboat

April 27th, 2016, 09:58

The Fukui cliffs will be a no-go also, but there's a modern, huge dinosaur museum on the more beaten path if that's your thing.

You can get a lot of information about dinosaurs and natural history there.

:100:

Ebi

April 27th, 2016, 11:34

You can get a lot of information about dinosaurs and natural history there.

:100:
You can also eat delicious foods. For example, you can eat Echizen soba.

Jiggit

April 27th, 2016, 12:18

Is there a more boring food in the world than soba?

acpc2203

April 27th, 2016, 12:27

Plain oatmeal

Jiggit

April 27th, 2016, 12:28

Plain oatmeal

I'm not a horse.

Gizmotech

April 27th, 2016, 22:06

Is there a more boring food in the world than soba?

Dry corn flakes.

Mega

April 28th, 2016, 01:11

Miyagi prefecture has what I like to call "cat-dream" island, just saying. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tashirojima Visited there two years ago. Not as many cats as in these picture, but still plenty. And other parts of the island are kinda deserted due to people moving away to bigger cities, so was kinda fun/eerie to walk around. And near the town you get on the ferry (called Ishinomaki) there seemed to be a lot of sightseeing stuff from the map at the station (I was on foot so didn't have a chance to explore). And Matsushima, which is nice but I am sure was mentioned.

And in Yamagata there is a beautiful temple on a cliff known as Yamadera which i visited. You could easily knock out Miyagi/Yamagata/Fukushima (I did this ona 3 day trip) and even Iwate/Akita/Aomori on the same trip. I have read that Iwate's/Aomori's Sanriku coast is beautiful.

I went in hiking in Saitama once, and would recommend it, especially because its an easy day trip from Tokyo!

Best of luck with your travels!

mrcharisma

April 28th, 2016, 01:37

You can get a lot of information about dinosaurs and natural history there.

:100:

Or they could take your approach to life on JET by sitting at home stuffing their face with Meiji, occasionally heading online to bitch about how "dumb" Japanese people are.

uthinkimlost?

April 28th, 2016, 07:40

Or they could take your approach to life on JET by sitting at home stuffing their face with Meiji, occasionally heading online to bitch about how "dumb" Japanese people are.
HEY!
Hey.

She's obviously a Morinaga girl. Show some respect, yo.

Jiggit

April 28th, 2016, 09:26

Or they could take your approach to life on JET by sitting at home stuffing their face with Meiji, occasionally heading online to bitch about how "dumb" Japanese people are.

Because sitting on ITIL at 2am sneering at female ALTs to make you feel better about not getting any yellowtail is so much better?

Frap

April 28th, 2016, 09:41

i'll be in tokyo for a bit in golden week and now i cba going

mrcharisma

April 28th, 2016, 16:44

Because sitting on ITIL at 2am sneering at female ALTs to make you feel better about not getting any yellowtail is so much better?

6pm my time and given I'm practically married I have no need for yellowtail.

GodInStrafeMode

April 28th, 2016, 17:18

Because sitting on ITIL at 2am sneering at female ALTs to make you feel better about not getting any yellowtail is so much better?

Flawless victory ... FATALITY *blood drips*

mrcharisma

April 28th, 2016, 17:40

Flawless victory ... FATALITY *blood drips*

Don't your Eikawa shifts usually start at 5? Night off?

Jiggit

April 28th, 2016, 17:49

Wow so you really have no reason to be on here at all then?

mrcharisma

April 28th, 2016, 17:53

Wow so you really have no reason to be on here at all then?

Nope but it's strangely moreish, more so than I found it when I was still living amongst The Master Race.

Frap

April 28th, 2016, 19:24

I'd miss you if you weren't around, mrcharisma〜

Ananasboat

April 28th, 2016, 20:52

Or they could take your approach to life on JET by sitting at home stuffing their face with Meiji, occasionally heading online to bitch about how "dumb" Japanese people are.

What I said was an exact quote of the new 2nen year middle school textbook.

Apparently it atrophies if you just experience Japan through /r/japancirclejerk.

GodInStrafeMode

April 29th, 2016, 09:59

Don't your Eikawa shifts usually start at 5? Night off?

Don't work Eikawa, but nice try there brah

ChasingTheSun

June 9th, 2016, 13:20

Has anyone here done it during their time on JET? I'm trying to visit all 47 before next August. At the moment, I'm up to 22 which I've visited over the past three years. Does anyone have recommendations on how to group the prefectures together to see the most in a short amount of time? During a 4-day trip to Osaka, I was able to visit Hyogo, Shiga, and Wakayama. I'd like to do more trips like that, if I can plan them strategically enough. My remaining prefectures are:

I can't drive in Japan and I live on Kyushu, which certainly makes things more expensive because I typically have to fly if I want to get off the island.

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 13:31

Thats my plan, I've been here four months and have done 8 already (with 6 more planned this year). This forum probably isnt the best place to ask about it though, everyone else thinks its a really stupid goal to try to achieve,
Of the ones that remain on your list I've seen Ibaraki and Kanagawa, so if you want any suggestions of nice things to do there, I can maybe offer some!

I also dont drive in Japan and live on an island that's expensive to leave :( Kyushu is gorgeous though, from what I've seen thus far it's my favourite region.

Jiggit

June 9th, 2016, 13:34

Leaving aside the obvious bait, why is this something you want to do? Why decide "I want to go to all the prefectures" and then try to figure out what you want to do in each one? Why don't you just make a list of places you want to visit and go to them regardless of which set of arbitrary lines they fit inside on a map?

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 13:49

Wait this isn't a bait post? I was suspicious at the 47 prefectures thing but the not driving part put it over the edge.

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 13:51

Leaving aside the obvious bait, why is this something you want to do? Why decide "I want to go to all the prefectures" and then try to figure out what you want to do in each one? Why don't you just make a list of places you want to visit and go to them regardless of which set of arbitrary lines they fit inside on a map?
Of course it's totally arbitrary, but I think I would have visited most of the prefectures anyways because I want to do my Masters in the history of of pottery and tea ceremony in Japan, and most prefectures have at least one town or city that's famous for its impact on pottery making techniques. I'm interested in seeing how different types of pottery developed all across Japan depending on each region's proximity to China/Korea, their willingness to adopt foreign techniques, the type of clay available and the divergence of aesthetics since the death of Sen no Rikyu. So I sort of do have a starting point of interest for each prefecture, but wanting to see them all is just me being neurotic.
Also, I love collecting those regional gotochi cards issues by JP, so it's given me an incentive to go to every prefecture.

Zolrak 22

June 9th, 2016, 14:24

Can we unite this with the other thread he/she created specifically about this?

I'm trying to visit every prefecture during my time here. So far I'm at 22 out of 47, but I have the next 1-2 years to see the rest.

Jiggit

June 9th, 2016, 14:27

Oh wow. I thought I was feeling deja vu. Can we get some level headed mods in here?

mothy

June 9th, 2016, 14:28

I'm trying to visit all 47 before next August.

Why?

I also dont drive in Japan

Why?

I want to do my Masters in the history of of pottery and tea ceremony in Japan

Why?

Zolrak 22

June 9th, 2016, 14:32

Oh wow. I thought I was feeling deja vu. Can we get some level headed mods in here?
http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/352642/resized_obi-wan-the-chosen-one-meme-generator-you-were-the-chosen-one-i-trusted-you-4d4e12.jpg

I still wish you were one of them.

Ini

June 9th, 2016, 14:32

rent a car and drive 10-16hrs a day. probably be able to bang all of honshu out in a long weekend.

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 14:39

Why?

Long answer: theres no need for a car on my island, seeing as I live next door to my school and can walk across the whole island in an hour. At most I would maybe like to have a car for the mainland of Okinawa that I use only on the weekends.
Short answer:Working on it, will get my IDP soon.

Why?

Good question. To most its an unspeakably boring topic, but I'm fascinated by it. Can't wait to have the most useless degree in the world!

Jiggit

June 9th, 2016, 14:42

We're being trolled. I bet she's not even a sexy babe either, it's just another Ini sock puppet!

uthinkimlost?

June 9th, 2016, 14:45

Sexy beaches be cray cray jiggington.

mothy

June 9th, 2016, 14:45

Why would you want to go fantastically in debt for a degree you don't need that has no worth just because you're interested in the subject? I mean, I can understand how people get worthless BAs, they're young and stupid. But really by the time they're getting an MA they should have learned a degree needs some kind of practical application. Or are you the Buster Bluth type?

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 14:45

probably be able to bang all of honshu in a long weekend.
Done and done

Zolrak 22

June 9th, 2016, 14:48

So can I assume that you are capable of running a tea ceremony on your own?

Or is it more about the theory and history than practice?

Frap

June 9th, 2016, 14:48

merged.

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 14:50

My university had a few tea ceremony classes because some Japanese billionaire donated the money for a tea garden. Didn't take the classes but the tea garden was a great place to drink.

uthinkimlost?

June 9th, 2016, 14:51

My university had a few tea ceremony classes because some Japanese billionaire donated the money for a tea garden. Didn't take the classes but the tea garden was a great place to drink.

Why would you want to go fantastically in debt for a degree you don't need that has no worth just because you're interested in the subject? I mean, I can understand how people get worthless BAs, they're young and stupid. But really by the time they're getting an MA they should have learned a degree needs some kind of practical application. Or are you the Buster Bluth type?
Was hoping to get my PhD, write history books, go back to school for another MA in Museum Studies and work on documentaries and museum exhibits. If my Japanese ever gets good enough, I would love to translate exhibits for english audiences and write guides. English translations of many tea-related treatises are somewhat lacking because the three main tea-schools ensure that publications that dont conform to their doctrines hardly ever reach the english market.

So can I assume that you are capable of running a tea ceremony on your own?

Or is it more about the theory and history than practice?
I did take a nine week sado-course back in Toronto (complete with nine strict obaachan teachers who loved to slap my hand when I didnt position my wrist at the right angle), so I can probably participate in a very low level ceremony without too much embarrassment, but its the history that I'm more fascinated by. Having a place where the rules of politics, time and society don't apply (no political leader or warlord has ever been assassinated in a tea room) is something I find really cool. In a tea room, youre not aloud to talk about time or any places/objects that exist outside of the room. You are supposed to be completely aware of the present moment and the objects that surround you. Even the cups, spoons, plates and kakejiku used are planned out months in advance by the host of the party depending on the season of the ceremony, who is coming, how close you are to the people you're having tea with, etc. You can easily insult a person if say, you used a hanging scroll with an iris painted on it (a symbol of good news) when one of your guests recently lost someone close to them. It's a game of reading the objects around you to figure out what your host thinks of you, and how close they consider you to be.

Jiggit

June 9th, 2016, 15:13

Sounds like someone's had a bit too much of the nihonjinron.

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 15:16

Jeez tdlr

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 15:20

Sounds like someone's had a bit too much of the nihonjinron.
Definitely. But as long as I keep spouting these inane facts, I think kyoto-sensei will want to keep me around. He gets a kick out of telling the students to ask me about tea.

ChasingTheSun

June 9th, 2016, 15:20

Wow. Did not expect these responses.

1. Genuinely forgot I had already posted about this. I'm just starting to think about how I'm going to allocate my nenkyuu for the next year, which is what got me thinking about this again.
2. Seriously not a bait post. The reason I have this goal is because I am not good about solo traveling or making myself be adventurous. If I set the goal of "I want to see all the prefectures" it is easier for me to encourage myself to actually leave my prefecture. Without this kind of goal I'd probably just stay in my prefecture indefinitely. Or I would only go to Osaka and miss out on the rest of the country.

mothy

June 9th, 2016, 15:23

If I had my JET Survivor game show, OwlScurvySauna would have just been told to pack her bags.

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 15:25

If I had my JET Survivor game show, OwlScurvySauna would have just been told to pack her bags.
ok but first, what material should my luggage be?

mothy

June 9th, 2016, 15:26

Or I would only go to Osaka and miss out on the rest of the country.

Miss out on seems like a strong choice of words.

mothy

June 9th, 2016, 15:28

ok but first, what material should my luggage be?

That would have kept you from even making it to the airport.

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 15:29

Miss out on seems like a strong choice of words.
Yup

mothy

June 9th, 2016, 15:46

I'm not even trying to be anti-japan here. It's just true that at a certain point you're just repeating yourself with visiting different prefectures. Visit different regions and then return to the interesting ones. Make friends and go visit them. Travel to other Asian countries. Different prefectures is just so arbitrary and pointless.

Zolrak 22

June 9th, 2016, 15:48

I did take a nine week sado-course back in Toronto (complete with nine strict obaachan teachers who loved to slap my hand when I didnt position my wrist at the right angle), so I can probably participate in a very low level ceremony without too much embarrassment, but its the history that I'm more fascinated by. So you wouldn't be able to host one? That's too bad. Still, I imagine that must have been an unique experience for you.

Having a place where the rules of politics, time and society don't apply (no political leader or warlord has ever been assassinated in a tea room) is something I find really cool.
There hasn't been any record of "normal" folks being attacked?

Though the idea of respecting an area to such a degree is quite fascinating.

In a tea room, youre not allowed to talk about time or any places/objects that exist outside of the room. You are supposed to be completely aware of the present moment and the objects that surround you.

Would the entities present also count as part of the scenery?

(Like say if someone came in with a specific type of clothing, would it alter the whole dynamic?)

Or is it more about the actions made by those involved as well as the items?

Even the cups, spoons, plates and kakejiku used are planned out months in advance by the host of the party depending on the season of the ceremony, who is coming, how close you are to the people you're having tea with, etc. You can easily insult a person if say, you used a hanging scroll with an iris painted on it (a symbol of good news) when one of your guests recently lost someone close to them. It's a game of reading the objects around you to figure out what your host thinks of you, and how close they consider you to be.

So I'm guessing it would be taboo as @58( to invite someone at the last minute or bring an uninvited guest?

(Sorry if I'm being too nosy, I like it when someone is passionate about a subject.)

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 15:54

Heh I see zolrak has found a new muse.

Zolrak 22

June 9th, 2016, 16:12

Heh I see zolrak has found a new muse.
If it makes you feel any better, you can be my muse the moment you are passionate about something besides memes. [emoji75]

acpc2203

June 9th, 2016, 16:58

i hope that day never comes

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 17:09

Would the entities present also count as part of the scenery?

(Like say if someone came in with a specific type of clothing, would it alter the whole dynamic?)

Or is it more about the actions made by those involved as well as the items?

So I'm guessing it would be taboo as @58( to invite someone at the last minute or bring an uninvited guest?

(Sorry if I'm being too nosy, I like it when someone is passionate about a subject.)
Yes, you can discuss what the people in the room are wearing (though the guests should also take the season and reason for the ceremony into consideration when getting dressed). Most of what get discussed are objects in the room and their history (ex. if they belonged to someone notable, the region they were produced them, the artist/potter who made them), and the taste of the sweets/tea. I believe in the earliest days of tea ceremony, there were gambling contests where guests would drink dozens of cups of tea and guess which region each one came from, but this became an unsavory practice after the 15th century.
And definitely taboo to bring extra people, these events are usually invitation only and meticulously planned.

Jiggit

June 9th, 2016, 17:12

And do they never despair at the futility of it all?

OatsCurrySummer

June 9th, 2016, 17:19

And do they never despair at the futility of it all?
It wouldn't be a proper tea ceremony without a healthy dollop of despair. And if your knees dont give out after six hours of sitting seiza, then you did it wrong.

Fantasylife

June 9th, 2016, 21:01

I'm not even trying to be anti-japan here. It's just true that at a certain point you're just repeating yourself with visiting different prefectures. Visit different regions and then return to the interesting ones. Make friends and go visit them. Travel to other Asian countries. Different prefectures is just so arbitrary and pointless.